Ayosta Wegusti Lossie (Eastern Band Cherokee), a member of the Blue Clan, represents the next generation of Cherokee designers. A junior at Cherokee Central High School, Lossie has already been working in the mediums of basket weaving, drawing, painting, finger weaving, pottery, and beadwork for over eleven years. She has gained exhibition and mural execution experience through Western Carolina University, the Cherokee Indian Fair (where she placed 1st in paper rivercane style basketry), and Waynesville, NC’s Art Show and public arts projects. It is no surprise that Lossie comes from a talented artisan family. Her mother, Lori Reed, taught her to work within each of the mediums she practices today and Louise Goings also guided her in making her first baskets.
Lossie continues to be inspired by the Cherokee culture and language her family has passed down to her and she plans to continue studying the language and culture of her tribe, one day becoming a fluent Cherokee speaker. Lossie currently resides in the Wolftown Community of Cherokee, NC.
